Best Tomato Soup

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Total Time 45 minutes

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This Best Tomato Soup recipe is a comforting dish, with a rich flavor and smooth texture. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal that will warm you up on a chilly day! Whether enjoyed alone or paired with a grilled cheese, this easy tomato soup never fails to hit the spot!

Try these tasty soups next! Creamy Mushroom Soup, Slow Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, Creamiest Roasted Cauliflower Soup, and Asparagus Soup.

overhead view of bowl of tomato soup with croutons and fresh basil

Why This Recipe Works

Simple Ingredients: The beauty of this best tomato soup recipe is the simplicity of the ingredients. These are simple, pantry staples that you don’t have to just through hurdles to find! The combination of simple, high quality ingredients will make a flavorful bowl of tomato soup that the whole family will love.

Flavorful Homemade Goodness: You will absolutely never open a can of tomato soup again once you make it at home! This homemade tomato soup is easy to make, and can be on the dinner table in just 45 minutes! This homemade version of tomato soup is so much better than anything you can buy at the store!

Ingredients

ingredients for tomato soup recipe
  • Butter: If you prefer not to use butter, you can use a high quality olive oil instead!
  • Leek: Leek adds a lovely flavor and texture! Be sure to thoroughly clean it. Slice it in half vertically and run it under cold water, making sure to get in between the layers.
  • Fire Roasted Tomatoes: I like to use canned fire roasted tomatoes because they have a deeper flavor.
  • Vegetable Broth: I used low sodium vegetable broth! If you use regular, you should go light on the salt until you taste at the end.
  • Basil: I like to add whole basil sprigs while the soup is simmering to let them release their flavor, and then discard later. If you don’t have fresh basil, you can add a bit of dried basil instead!

Here’s How to Make It

steps 1-6 for tomato soup recipe
  1. Sauté Aromatics: Heat the butter in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over a medium high heat. Add the leek with a large pinch of salt, and cook until soft and just starting to color, this should take about 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for a further minute, until fragrant. (photos 1-5)
  2. Add Tomatoes: Add the canned tomatoes, followed by the vegetable broth, using a little of the broth to wash out the cans of every last bit of tomato juice. (photos 6-8)
  3. Add Seasonings: Stir in the brown sugar, oregano, and the whole basil sprigs and bring to the boil. Season well with salt and pepper before reducing the heat to low and leaving to simmer for 20 minutes. (photos 9-10)
  4. Remove from Heat & Serve: Remove the soup from the heat, discarding the basil sprigs. Add the heavy cream and blitz using a stick blender until smooth. Add more salt and pepper to taste before serving the tomato soup with more basil and a swirl of cream in each bowl. (photos 11-12)
steps 7-12 of tomato soup recipe

Expert Tips

  • If you prefer to use canned tomato sauce instead of fire roasted tomatoes, you totally can! Use a bit less vegetable broth, just add enough until you get your desired thickness! Also, use just 1 tsp of brown sugar and then adjust at the end according to taste. If it is overly acidic, you can add a little more sugar!
  • If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can blend the soup in a stand blender. However, you have to be very careful when blending hot liquids as the lid can pop off due to the pressure! Allow the soup to cool a little bit and then hold the lid on top using a kitchen towel to avoid any messes.
  • To make vegan tomato soup, replace the butter with olive oil and the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk!
  • If you prefer, you can use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I serve with tomato soup?

Tomato soup is one of those soups that goes great with a simple side of crusty bread. You can also pair it with a grilled cheese, my copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks, homemade biscuits, focaccia bread, or garlic knots! A fresh side salad would really round out the meal, too.

How should I store leftover tomato soup?

Store any leftover roasted tomato soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days! This soup also freezes well, up to 3 months!

two bowls of creamy tomato soup topped with basil and croutons

More Cozy Soup Recipes to Try

Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!

overhead view of bowl of tomato soup with croutons and fresh basil
5 from 3 votes

Tomato Soup

This Best Tomato Soup recipe is a comforting dish, with a rich flavor and smooth texture. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal that will warm you up on a chilly day! Whether enjoyed alone or paired with a grilled cheese, this easy tomato soup never fails to hit the spot!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 leek, trimmed and sliced
  • salt, to taste
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 28 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2 ½ cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 large basil sprigs
  • cracked black pepper, to taste
  • ¼ cup + 2 tbsp heavy cream, plus extra to serve

Instructions 

  • Heat the butter in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over a medium high heat. Add the leek with a large pinch of salt, and cook until soft and just starting to color: this should take about 10 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for a further minute, until fragrant. 
  • Add the canned tomatoes, followed by the vegetable broth, using a little of the broth to wash out the cans of every last bit of tomato juice. Stir in the brown sugar, oregano and the whole basil sprigs and bring to the boil. Season well with salt and pepper before reducing the heat to low and leaving to simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the soup from the heat, discarding the basil sprigs. Add the heavy cream and blitz using a stick blender until smooth. Add more salt and pepper to taste before serving with more basil and a swirl of cream in each bowl. 

Notes

  • To make Tomato Soup with canned tomato sauce: substitute the fire roasted tomatoes for canned tomato sauce. Gradually add the vegetable broth to thin the soup to your liking, up to 2 cups. Add only 1 tsp of brown sugar to the soup, and add more to taste at the end when you’re checking the rest of the seasoning. 
  • This soup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, and freezes well for up to 3 months. 
  • For a healthier option, substitute coconut milk for the heavy cream. For a vegan option, also switch out the butter for oil. If you prefer to use canned tomato sauce instead of fire roasted tomatoes, you totally can! Use a bit less vegetable broth, just add enough until you get your desired thickness! Also, use just 1 tsp of brown sugar and then adjust at the end according to taste. If it is overly acidic, you can add a little more sugar!
  • If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can blend the soup in a stand blender. However, you have to be very careful when blending hot liquids as the lid can pop off due to the pressure! Allow the soup to cool a little bit and then hold the lid on top using a kitchen towel to avoid any messes.
  • To make vegan tomato soup, replace the butter with olive oil and the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk!
  • If you prefer, you can use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth!

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1478IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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17 Comments

  1. Laurie says:

    5 stars
    Oh my better than ANY canned or ANY other homemade…tomato, basil, leek and garlic – every flavor you’d want in a goooooood tomato soup.